Thermic motor



(N6 Mode-1; 'a SheetsShe et 1.

M. J. EICHHORN.

THBRMIG MOTOR.

No. 596,364. Patented Dec..28,1897.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets'Sheet 2.

M. J; EIGHHORN THERMIU MOTOR.

No. 596,364. Patented Dec. 28,1897] Exrmuar (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet3.

M. J. EICHHORN THERMIO MOTOR.

No. 596,364. 7 Patented Dec, 28,1897.

I 5 Y Q @27 I calm Mzm NITED STATES MELKER J. EICHHORN, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS.

THERMIC MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,364, dated December28, 1897. Application filed May 17, 1895. Serial No. 549,641- (Nomodel.)

residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain newand useful Improvements in Thermic Motors, of whichthe following is a true and exact specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to improvements in thermic motors, and has forits-prime object the production of a motor of this class in which thepower is produced by the agency of a gas-turbine in which the potentialor latent energy of the fuel is converted into dynamic energy orphysical force which can be utilized through the turbine wheel.

Another object is to store and utilize the products of the exploded gasso delivered to and directed upon the turbine wheel as to practicallysuspend and operate the turbine wheel in space in the production ofpower therefrom, whereby the friction to which turbines have heretoforebeen subjected is reduced to a minimum.

A still further object is to have a thermic motor of the gas-turbinetype in which the cycle of operation is contained within the machine,the operating power for the turbine being automatically produced andcontrolled from the turbine, the operation of the turbine renderedeconomical and steady in the maximum degree, and the-whole machinerendered of such compactness as to occupy the minimum space.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained bythe devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1represents a central longitudinal section of a gas-turbine embodied inmy invention. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;and Fig. 4 represents a transverse vertical section on the line 4 4 ofFig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar letters and numerals of reference.

' struction and arrangement of my motor, I will first describe thegeneral operation thereof.

The motor comprises a turbine wheel, an expansion-chamber for theexploded gases, an explosion-chamber, a mixing-chamber, a pump fordelivering the explosive mixture under slight compression from themixingchamber to the explosion-chamber, and conduits or passages forconducting the explosive mixture from the mixing-chamber to theexplosion-chamber and from the compression-chamber to the turbine wheel.The pump, the valves controlling the admission of air and gas to themixing-chamber, and the circuit-closin g devices are operated by powertaken from the turbine wheel, so that once the wheel is in motion thereis a perfect cycle of operation within the motor, and the explosivemixture is admitted to the motor, forced into the explosion-chamber,ignited, and exploded, then delivered to the expansion-chamber, where itis held under high compression, and from the expansion-chamber deliveredto the turbine wheel for operating the same and through it producingmotive power which may be utilized in any desired manner.

Referring now by letters and figures to the accompanying drawings, Aindicates the turbine wheel, mounted up in a vertical shaft 13, suitablyj ournaled upon ball-bearings O in an external casing D, provided withan exhaustport E, the products of combustion being delivered into theturbine-chamber through the pipes Fand G in a manner which will bedescribed in detail further on. Suitably adjacent to the turbine-chamberis the expansionc-hamber H, containing a packed piston I, yieldinglyforced toward one end of the said chamber by a compressible agent, suchas the coiled springs J, confined between said piston and the end of theexpansion-chamber. Obviously air or other compressible fluid or agentmay be substituted for the coiled springs In the lower portion of theexpansion-chamber is located the explosion-chamber K, connected by ductsor passages L with the expansion-chamberon the side of the piston Iopposite to the spring or other compressible agent. In these ducts orpassagesL are lo cated suitable one-way valvesthat is, valves that willopen so as to permit the passage of the products of explosion from theexplosion-chamber into the compression-chamber, but will close toprevent the return of such products. In the drawings I have illustrateda simple form of such a valve, comprising a pair of rollers M, suitablyjournaled in inclined ways N, formed in the walls of the ducts orpassages L, which rollers, when actuated by superior pressure from theexplosion-chamber, will back off and separate, so as to permit theproducts of explosion to pass by them through the ducts, but willimmediately return to contact with each other and the said walls of theways, so as to close said ducts under the combined influence of thepressure above them in the expansion-chamber and gravity.

I11 practice I propose to provide the explosion-chamber with awater-jacket through which cold water will be constantly circulated bythe inlet and outlet pipes O and P for the purpose of maintaining thesaid chamber at as low a temperature as possible. I also propose toprovide the expansion-chamber with a jacket of some material which is aninferior conductor of heat, such as a magnesia jacket, so as to maintainas high a heat as practicable within said chamber and thereby enable themaintenance, without material fluctuation, of as high pressure aspossible in the expansiomchamber.

I may here state that while I have designated the chamber H as anexpansion-chamber for permitting the products of explosion to expandtherein against a yielding abutment this chamber may be more properlytermed a compression-chamber, forthe expanded gases are maintained atall times under compression therein and are expelled therefrom largelyby such compressing agent. I will therefore in future reference to thischamber, for greater clearness, refer to it as a compression-chamber.

In the explosion-chamber is located a pair of sparking-points Q,included in the secondary electric circuit of an induction-coil, whichwhen the primary or battery circuit of said coil is closed at a pointexternal to said chamber produces a spark which causes an explosion ofthe gas contained in said chamber. This explosion-chamber is connectedby a pipe or passage R, in which is contained a non-return check-valve Swith a mixing-chamber T, and between said mixing-chamber and thecheckvalve is located a single-actin g pump U,which draws the charge ofexplosive mixturet'. 6., air and gasint o the said chamber, Where itmixes and from whence it is discharged by the pump through the passage Rpast the check-valve S into the combustion-chamber, the inlet-valves forthe mixing-chamber being so operated as to be closed during the down orcompressing stroke of the pump.

The pump is operated by an eccentric V upon a shaft \V, through themedium of an eccentric-strap X, attached to the piston-rod Y of thepump.

The shaft IV is driven from the turbineshaft B by means of a beveledgear connection between the shaft NV and a counter-shaft a, which latterin turn has a gear connection I; c with the turbine-shaft. Obviouslythis train of gears may be variously arranged without departing from thespirit of my invention so long as it serves to transmit motion from theturbine wheel with proper speed and poweinto perform the functions ofthe shaft W, which in point of fact serves the purpose of agovernor-shaft. Upon the governor-shaft is also mounted a cam-disk o,with which engages a spring-actuated rod 1), which operates as acircuit-closer, a contactblock (1 on the end thereof constituting oneterminal of an electric battery or primary circuit and another block 0',adapted and ar ranged for contact with the block q, constituting theother terminal of the circuit.

It will thus be readily understood that as arranged in the drawings thebattery-circuit will be closed, and there will be consequently oneexplosion for each rotation of the governor-shaft, for during eachrotation the pump makes a complete stroke, draws in its charge ofexplosive mixture, and forces the same into and slightly compresses saidmixture in the explosion-chamber, and while under such slightcompression the primary circuit is closed, as between the terminals qand r, and the spark is produced by the induced current jumping betweenthe spark-points Q, which are included in the secondary electriccircuit.

In the drawings I have illustrated the valve controlling the admissionof gas and air to the mixing-chamber as a double spring-actuatedcheck-valve T, opening inwardly toward its chamber under the suction ofthe pump, the gas being delivered into the chamber T through the pipe Tand the air being admitted to the chamber T through the nozzle T thearrangement of these parts being best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Of course by proper variations in the train of gearing connecting theturbine-shaft with the governor-shaft the number of explosions persecond may be varied according to the work to be performed by themachine; but for all general purposes from six to eight explosions persecond and about forty thousand revolutions per minute of theturbine-shaft will prove sufficient.

The compressed products of explosion are conducted from thecompression-chamber II, through the pipes or passages s and t, to thetangential and oppositely-disposed twyers F and G, which twyers, as moreclearly illustrated in Fig. 3, are provided with two discharge-nozzles aand i), one above the wheel and the other below the wheel, so that thebuckets of the wheel pass between each pair of discharge-nozzles. Inpractice I propose to give the lower nozzle on each twyer a superiorcapacity, so as to exert a sufficient upward force upon the turbinewheel to practically suspend and rotate the same in space, therebyrelieving the bearings of the turbineshaft from practically all dutyexcept to maintain the same in alinement, as the friction will bepractically eliminated by such an arrangement of the twyer-nozzles. Tothis end I propose that the ball-bearings for the turbine-shaft shall besufficiently loose to provide play between the stationary and revolvingparts, so that the turbine wheel and shaft will be left free to adjustthemselves and r0- tate around the axis of their center of gravitywithout reference to'the geometrical axis of the shaft and the bearings.Of course the pressure of the jets delivered from the twyernozzles aboveand below the wheel may be adjusted either separately or simultaneouslywith relation to each other for the purpose of properly balancing theweight of the turbine shaft and wheel, so as to not only lift the latterfrom its bearings, but to as nearly as possible center the same andthereby reduce the friction between the shaft and its bearings incompelling the Wheel to spin practically free in space while supportedupon the slightly superior force of the lower gas- In operation theseries of rapid explosions, the product of which passes into thecompression-chamber, serves to lift the piston of thecompression-chamber against the yielding resistance of the spring orother compressible agent, which places the products of explosion undercompression in said chamber, which thereby serves to store the entirepotential energy of the exploded gases ready for use whenever desired.When sufficient pressure has been stored, the products of explosion aredelivered from the compressionchamber direct to the turbine wheel insuch volume as may be deemed advisable or desirable for the Work to beperformed by the motor, where the potential energy of the exploded gasesmaybe practically entirely converted into dynamic or physical energy.The consumption of the stored or compressed explodedgases may beproportioned to practically equal the production of exploded gases bythe motor, and hence a gas of practically uniform pressure may bedeliveredto the turbine wheel, and there will be little occasion forvariations of pressure in the compression-chamber, although suchvariations are of course provided for in the described arrangement. Instartingup, a small hand air-pump 10 may be employed for producing theinitial revolutions of the turbine Wheel by driving air through thenozzles upon the buckets of the wheel.

My invention is far superior in many particulars to the steam-turbine orthe gas-engine as now known in the art, for there is no smoke, soot, orexpense involved in producing the initial power such as is involved inproducing steam, nor is there the objectionable noise of the exhaust;nor the odor or waste of energy involved in the operation ofgas-engines, for practically all of the explosive force is utilized andthe products of explosion are not exhausted and discharged until almostfully utilized and after their municated to the turbine.

pressure has been reduced to, or nearly to, that of the atmosphere.

In practice it will be found that a certain amount of the products ofexplosion will remain in the explosion-chamber after the explosion takesplace, although the greater portion of the products of explosion willpass into the. compression-chamber. In order to remove the surplusproducts of explosion, I provide a valve-chamber 10, having a nor mallyopen balanced valve 11, which is held in an opened position by means ofthe spring 12 between the explosions in the explosionchamber andautomatically closed during each explosion. The valve-rod 13 is connected with a bell-crank lever 14, which is pivoted on a suitable support 16and provided with a friction-roller 17, arranged to operate in contactwith a cam 19 upon the shaft W. This cam 19 is so constructed that thevalve isclosed during the time the explosion takes place, andimmediately after each explosion in the explosion-chamber takes place itwill be permitted to rise, so that the products of explosion whichremain in chamber K will be permitted to escape through the valve 10 andpipe 25 into the exhaust-chamber D. I arrange a governor 20 on the shaftW, which is adapted to adjust the cam 19 on said shaft to provide forlimiting the movement of the valve more or less, as desired. As thespeed of the turbine and the shaft W increases the governor will drawthe cam 19 to the right (see Fig. 1) and the valve 11 will be liftedless. Consequently a part of the exploded gases will be kept back inchamber K and a smaller quantity of fresh gas-and-air mixture admittedto said chamber. This will weaken the force of the consecutiveexplosions and tend to reduce the speed of the turbine. By these means Iam enabled to adjust the force of the consecutive explosions accordingto the power required.

As far as I am aware, in all the motors heretofore constructed of thegeneral class to which my invention belongs the products of explosionare admitted to the turbine wheel, either directly or indirectly, insuch a way that the force of each explosion is communicated like a blowto the turbine wheel. This is exceedingly objectionable, and I haveovercome such objection in my improved motor by providing avalve-chamber 21, which communicates with the pipe s and has a normallyopen valve 22, which is arranged to be automatically closed as eachexplosion takes place in the explosion-chamber to prevent the force ofexplosion from being com- The valve-rod 23 of this valve 21 ispiviotally connected to a bell-crank lever 24, pivoted on the support 16and provided with a friction-roller 25, arranged to operate in contactwith the cam 26, secured on the shaft W. As the cam 26 revolves thebell-crank lever 24 is actuated to close the valve 22 during theexplosion, and which valve is caused to open immediately after theexplosion to permit the products of explosion from the expansion-chamberto pass through the pipe 8 into the twyers F and G. I am thus enabled toprevent the effect which would result if the products of explosion werepermitted to pass directly to the turbine wheel and momentarily increasethe speed of said wheel. The products of explosion pass through thevalve 21, which is arranged to operate in such a manner that the forceof the explosion will be entirely stored in the expansion-chamber.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

1. The combination in a gas-turbine, of an expansion or compressionchamber, a yielding abutment working therein, an explosionchamber, aduct or passage connecting said chambers, and a non-return check-valvelocated in said duct or passage, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a gas-turbine of an expansion-chamber andexplosion-chamber, a one-way-valved communication between said chambers,a pump for delivering an explosive mixture to, and compressing the samein, said explosion-chamber, a turbine wheel, nozzles communicating withthe expansion-chamber for directing the products of explosion to saidwheel, the terminals q, r and a spring-actuated rod adapted to close thecircuit and operated from the main shaft of the turbine wheel,substantially as described.

3. The combination in a gas-turbine, of an explosion-chamber, anexpansion or compression chamber, a one-way-valved com municationbetween said chambers, a piston in the expansion-chamber, and a springactuating said piston and adapted to maintain the products of explosionfrom the explosion-chamber under pressure in the expansion-chamber,substantially as described.

l. The combination in a gas-turbine, of an explosion-chamber, anexpansion-chamber, a one-way-valved communication between said chambers,a turbine wheel and tangentiallyarranged twyers, each twyer beingprovided with a pair of nozzles, one located above and the other belowsaid wheel, substantially as described.

5. The combination in a gas-turbine, of an explosion-chamber, anexpansion-chamber, a one-way-valved communication between said chambers,a turbine wheel and tangentiallyarranged twyers, each of said twyersbeing provided with a pair of nozzles, one arranged below, the otherabove a turbine wheel, those below said wheel having a superiorpressure, substantially as described.

6. The combination in a gas-turbine, of a turbine wheel mounted on avertical shaft, nozzles arranged tangentially in pairs above and belowthe said wheel, and means whereby the pressure of the jets delivered bysaid nozzles above and below the wheel may be adjusted separately orsimultaneously with relation to each other, substantially as described.

7. The combination in a gas-turbine, of a turbine wheel mounted upon avertical shaft, nozzles arranged tangentially in pairs below theperiphery of the wheel, and loose ballbearings for said shaft,substantially as described.

8. The combination in a gas-turbine, of a turbine wheel mounted on avertical shaft,nozzles arranged tangentially in pairs above and belowthe said wheel, and means whereby the pressure of the jets delivered bysaid nozzles above and below the wheel may be varied with relation toeach other, and loose ballbearings for said shaft, substantially asdescribed.

9. The combination in a gas-turbine, of an expansion-chamber, anexplosion-chamber, a one-way-valved communication between said chambers,a pump for delivering an explosive mixture to and compressing the samein said explosion-chamber, means for igniting said explosive mixture, aturbine wheel, and nozzles communicating with the expansion-chamher fordirecting the exploded products of explosion to said wheel,substantially as described.

10. The combination in a gas-turbine of an expansion chamber, anexplosion chamber arranged below the expansionchamber, a one-way-valvedcommunication between said chambers, a pump for delivering an explosivemixture to, and compressing the same in, said explosion-chamber, avertical shaft B, a turbine wheel mounted upon said shaft, a camshaftgeared with said vertical shaft, a cam-disk mounted on said cam-shaft,aspringactuated rod adapted to be operated by said cam-disk, a stationaryterminal block 0' and a terminal block q carried by the spring-actuatedrod and adapted to be brought in contact with the stationary terminalblock to close the circuit and cause an explosion and ignite theexplosive mixture in the explosion-chamber, substantially as described.

11. In a gas-turbine, the combination with an explosion-chamber, anexpansion or compression chamber, a turbine and connections between saidturbine and the expansionchamber, of a valve-chamber 21, a connectionbetween the expansion-chamber and the turbine and provided with aspring-controlled valve, a bell-crank lever pivotallysecured to asuitable support and connected to said valve, a cam-shat t geared to theturbine-shaft and a stationary cam arranged on said shaft and adapted toactuate said bell-crank lever to operate the valve in saidvalve-chamber, substantially as described.

12. In a gas-turbine, the combination with an explosion-chamber, anexpansion or compression chamber, the nozzles, a turbine, aturbine-shaft, a connection between said nozzles and theexpansion-chamber, of a valve-' chamber 10 between the saidexplosion-chamber and the nozzles, and provided with a spring-controlledvalve, a bell-crank lever pivotally secured to a suitable support andconnected to said valve, a cam-shaft, and a centrifugal governorconnected to said cam and adapted to adjust the position of the cam,substantially as described.

13. In a gas-turbine, the combination with an explosion-chamber, anexpansion or compression chamber, the nozzles, a turbine, aturbine-shaft, a connection between said nozzles and the expansion orcompression chamber, of a mixing-chamber, a pump adapted to deliver theexplosive mixture to, and compressing the same in, saidexplosion-chamber, a valve-chamber 10 between the said explosion-chamberand the nozzles provided with a spring-controlled valve, a bell-cranklever pivotally supported and connected to said valve, a cam-shaft, acam movably secured on said cam-shaft, and a centrifugal governorconnected to said cam and adapted to adjust the position of the cam,substantially as described.

14:. In a gas-turbine, the combination With an explosion-chamber, aturbine and connection between said explosion-chamber and the turbine,of means communicating with said connection adapted to prevent the forceof the explosion in said explosion-chamber from acting directly upon theturbine, substantially as described.

15. In a gas-turbine, the combination with an explosion-chamber, aturbine and a connection between said turbine and the explosion-chamber,of an expansion-chamber and a valve communicating with said connectionadapted to be automatically closed to prevent the force of vtheexplosion in the explosionchamber from being directly communicated tothe turbine, substantially as described.

MELKER J. EICHHORN.

Witnesses:

O. R. BARNETT,

OHAs. B. BOWEN.

